The land carrying capacity and environmental risk assessment of livestock and poultry breeding considering crop planting

At present, the contradiction between survival and ecology necessitates the integration of crop planting, chemical fertilizer application, and livestock and poultry breeding. Reasonably integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLSs) have become an important part of regional ecological and agricultural development. In this study, the relationship between manure nutrient demands for crops and manure nutrient supply from livestock is considered based on the balance of ICLSs in Jiangxi Province, China. The land carrying capacity index and potential of livestock breeding under uncoordinated systems are further discussed. The study also addresses water environmental risk due to surplus nutrients by integrating a traditional land carrying capacity framework and hydrological model. The results show that phosphorus absorption in land areas is the main limiting factor for the development of the livestock and poultry industries. In addition, manure nutrient demand exceeded supply in most districts, while the unbalanced regions with nutrient pollution are located in the upper and middle reaches of the Ganjiang basin. In addition, expanding the crop demand for manure or increasing the manure collection rate will help reduce environmental harm; however, attention should be paid to the risk of excessive manure returns. Additional livestock manure can be transferred to regions with developed crop planting systems. This study supports more harmonious and common ICLSs construction.